The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) fires its Mark 45, 5-inch 54-caliber gun during an integrated live-fire event, March 30, 2023, in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tyler Thompson)
A United States Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the Middle East shot down a drone that was launched from Yemen on November 15, the Pentagon announced.
In a statement, the Department of Defense said that destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down the drone over the Red Sea.
“On November 15th and while transiting the international waters of the Red Sea, the crew of the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) engaged a drone that originated from Yemen and was heading in the direction of the ship,” the Pentagon said in the statement. “The Hudner‘s crew engaged and shot down the drone to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel. There were no U.S. casualties or any damage to the ship.”
USS Thomas Hudner is operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, disaggregated from the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. As of November 13, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, which is a part of the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.
This was the second intercept by a U.S. warship in the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel.
On October 20, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney intercepted four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a nine-hour period. The Pentagon said the missiles were launched by Iranian-backed Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, most likely at targets in Israel.
The Houthis later claimed responsibility for several missile and drone attacks on Israel. They also shot down a U.S. combat drone and threatened to target Israeli ships sailing near Yemen.
Neither the U.S. or Israel have yet responded to recent attacks from Yemen, possibly not to further provoke the Houthsi who control much of the country and maintain a large arsenal of long-range precision-guided weapons.
